Humboldt
Flag
Nickname(s): Boldt
Humboldt
Coordinates: 52°12′07″N 105°07′23″W / 52.20194°N 105.12306°W / 52.20194; -105.12306Coordinates: 52°12′07″N 105°07′23″W / 52.20194°N 105.12306°W / 52.20194; -105.12306
Country	Canada
Province	Saskatchewan
Establishment	1875
Government
- Mayor	Malcolm Eaton
- Humboldt City Council	Aaron Behiel, Leon Fleischhacker, Gord Lees, Rob Muench, Phillip Smith, Leon Winkel
Area
- Total	11.66 km2 (4.5 sq mi)
Elevation	548.60 m (1,800 ft)
Population (2008)
- Total	5,765
- Density	426.4/km2 (1,104.4/sq mi)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
Area code(s)	306
Website	http://www.cityofhumboldt.ca

Humboldt is a Canadian city located in the province of Saskatchewan, 113 km east of Saskatoon at the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 20. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Humboldt No. 370.

History

Humboldt Telegraph Station

Humboldt Post Office
National Historic Site

Named after the German explorer, Alexander von Humboldt, Humboldt began as a telegraph station located on the Carlton Trail, a wagon route used in the early days of Canada as a route from Fort Garry (Winnipeg) to Fort Edmonton. The name "Humboldt" was approved in 1875 for the site in the North West Territories along the Canadian Pacific Telegraph Line at which a repair station was built (8 km south-west of the present city site). Built in 1878, the Humboldt Telegraph Station played an integral part in communications for the developing west.

With the Métis uprising led by Louis Riel taking place at Batoche just 100 km northwest, Humboldt became the communication link between Prime Minister John A. Macdonald and his forces in the west, thus a site of strategic significance. General Middleton arrived in April 1885 with 950 soldiers, established a garrison at the station and used it as his base for scouting operations. At that time, the Humboldt station was crucial, since the telegraph line further west was periodically cut, so Humboldt was the last secure link to the east.

On May 1, 1885, Humboldt became the site of a large supply depot under Maj. Lt.-Colonel G. T. Denison, of the Governor Generals Body Guard. A combined force of approximately 460 men built an elaborate series of entrenchments, converting the station into a fortified military encampment to protect the supplies. The troops left Humboldt in July 1885. The area was also the site of the first stagecoach robbery in Western Canada. Parts of the Carlton Trail in the form of wagon tracks still exist in the Humboldt area.

Humboldt in its beginnings was primarily German Catholic. Immigration to the area from both the Northern Plains states of the USA and Germany was promoted by the German American Land Company. St Peter's Abbey at Muenster was established by Benedictine monks from St John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota. Many immigrants from Germany settled in areas in and around Humboldt such as Muenster, Fulda, Pilger, St Gregor and Englefeld. Immigrants from the Russian Empire who were ethnic Germans settled in the area west of Humboldt and south of the hamlet of Carmel.

Until the 1940s, Humboldt had a small Jewish community which played a prominent role in its business and cultural life.

After being established as a city, Humboldt became an important location in Saskatchewan known as the Heart of the Sure Crop District for its reliable growing weather, which led the town to become a centre for farming equipment and supply businesses.

Climate

Humboldt is positioned near the centre of the continent having a relatively high latitude. It is a great distance from the moist and moderating influence of oceans influence its atmospheric environment. The latitudinal difference of Saskatchewan can typically explain a 6–8°C difference mean in annual temperatures across the province.

Humboldt's lands are grasslands which are suitable for the agricultural economy. The lands are primarily flat with small rolling hills.

Humboldt aerial view

Humboldt experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb).

Demographics

Main Street, showing German-themed design

According to the 2006 census, Humboldt has a population of 4,998 people which is a decrease in 3.2% from the previous census in 2001. In 2008 the population had grown to 5,765 people. Around 16% of the population consists of youths under the age of 15. The 2006 Census states that the median age of the Humboldt population is 45.

The above land area figure was provided by the City of Humboldt in 2006.

According to the 2006 Census, Humboldt consists of mostly Caucasian and Aboriginal people. 97.8% of the population is occupied by Caucasian ethnicity as well as a small portion of visible minority. The other 2.2% is occupied by Aboriginal peoples.

Economy

Field in Humboldt

Humboldt railway station

About 95% of all goods produced in the province directly depend on its basic resources (grains, livestock, oil and gas, potash, uranium and wood, and their refined products.

Wheat, grain, canola, flax, peas, rye, lentils, canary seeds and barley are mainly grown in the area. Beef cattle production, pork production, as well as other livestock, is significant for the community. With many farmers in the area, agricultural related businesses were formed. Some of the services offered are trucking and financial management, finance, business services, wholesale trade, transportation, etc. These jobs became significant for the farming community as well as the manufacturing community.

Notable people

Notable people who were born, grew up in or established their fame in Humboldt:

• Jack Adams, former clerk at Arlington Hotel who founded and owned much of the Canadian division of Holiday Inns
• Cori Bartel, Athlete (curling)
• Kelly Bates, Edmonton Eskimos guard
• Al Duerr, former mayor of Calgary, Alberta
• Glenn Hall, professional ice hockey goaltender
• Ross Lonsberry, professional ice hockey player, 2 Time Stanley Cup Champion with the Philadelphia Flyers
• Otto Lang, Rhodes Scholar, Law School Dean, Federal Cabinet Minister, and Executive
• Brad Lauer, former professional ice hockey player
• Rusty Malinoski, professional wakeboarder
• Kyle McLaren, San Jose Sharks defenceman
• Brendan Witt, New York Islanders defenceman
• Nathan Paetsch, Florida Panthers defenceman
• Ann Saddlemyer, scholar, former Head of Massey College, University of Toronto
• William Dutton, speed skater
• Jeremy Wotherspoon, speed skater 67 time world cup champion
• Robbie Malinoski, professional snowmobiler
• Brianne Theisen, Oregon University track & Field
• Lyndon Rush, 2010 Olympian, Canadian Bobsledder

		Wakaw	Annaheim Lake Lenore
	Carmel Bruno Meacham Saskatoon		Muenster St. Gregor Englefeld Watson
		Humboldt
		Burr Guernsey Lanigan	Leroy

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